Africa ex-president Zuma slam prosecuting authority

Zuma is facing 16 charges of fraud, racketeering, and money laundering relating to a deal to buy nearly 5 billion United States dollars of European weapons for the South African military in the late 90s.

Sikhakhane's submissions to the court were wide ranging, but in essence speak to a broader conspiracy surrounding the charges against Zuma, and when he was and was not charged.

Jacob Zuma's lawyers argued on Monday that the former South African president had been treated unfairly by prosecutors in his attempt to have revived corruption charges set aside because he is unpopular in the country at large.

State prosecutors say that Zuma extracted a bribe of almost US$35,000 in exchange for the contract, as "protection money". "Does he get stripped of human dignity, is there a reason to deal with him in a particular way because he is Mr. Zuma?"

This was argued by Zuma's own lawyer, advocate Muzi Sikhakhane SC, who is trying to persuade the court to grant an application for a permanent stay of prosecution.

He has been accused of taking bribes from French defence company Thales during his time as a provincial economy minister and later as deputy president.

Zuma addressed the crowd after the first day of proceedings wrapped up.

The company argues that the re-introduction of the charges "holds no validity" because the charges were originally struck down in 2009, shortly before Zuma became president.

"Thales reiterates that it has no knowledge of any transgressions having been committed by any of its employees in relation to the awarding of the contract for the combat systems for South Africa's corvettes (the Arms Deal in 1999)".

Zuma, who is thought to have little personal wealth, was ordered by a court previous year to pay back state funds and cover his own costs in the case, leaving him with large legal bills.

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